Catholic Classics Day 9: Searching for Answers (The Confessions of St. Augustine)
Oct 10, 2023
St. Augustine joins the Manichaeans due to the answers they provide. Augustine reflects on his journey towards seeking ultimate truth and encounters with deceptive individuals. His engagement with Cicero's writings and the Scriptures is explored. The theme of wisdom and Augustine's journey of seeking wisdom through different sources is discussed. Saint Ambrose's preaching reignites Augustine's desire for wisdom and he ponders the contradiction of evil with the existence of one God and the goodness of creation.
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Cicero, Scripture, and Augustine's Reaction
- Augustine's exposure to Cicero sparked a desire for wisdom, while he found the scriptures comparatively lacking.
- This contrast highlights Augustine's early emphasis on rhetoric over spiritual depth.
Augustine's Search for Wisdom
- Augustine, dissatisfied with scripture, turns to Manichaeism for answers about wisdom.
- His educational background, emphasizing rhetoric, influenced his preference for Cicero's style.
Ambrose's Influence on Augustine
- St. Ambrose helped Augustine find renewed interest in scripture by highlighting God's use of words and realities to signify deeper truths.
- Accessing these truths requires faith, which provides a light to understand the mysteries of God.